R360 Players Subject to 10-Year Exclusion from Australia's Rugby League

Rugby league's governing body has announced that participants who enter the “counterfeit” R360 league will be barred for 10 seasons.

The proposed competition, scheduled to begin in 2026, is hoping to draw rugby union and rugby league players with substantial agreements and a condensed game calendar.

Prominent NRL stars have allegedly been contacted by the breakaway group, which will include six or eight men's teams and four women's teams operating from key urban centers worldwide.

Samoa's Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, who is with the Warriors in the league, has confirmed he has had talks with the new organization.

Ryan Papenhuyzen, Lomax, Payne Haas and Jye Gray are also said to be considering joining R360.

Several leading rugby union nations, including Australia, last week imposed a ban on players joining R360 appearing in international matches.

“We've listened to our teams and we've acted decisively,” commented Australian Rugby League Commission chairman Peter V'Landys.

“Unfortunately, there will persistently exist entities that attempt to hijack our code for potential financial gain.

“They fail to contribute in development systems or the advancement of athletes. They only leverage the efforts of existing bodies, endangering athletes of monetary damage while gaining personally.

“In truth, they represent, copying the game.”

The league is established by retired international Tindall and backed by private investors.

Subsequent to the prospective rugby union sanctions were declared recently, it stated: “We want to work collaboratively as integrated into the worldwide fixture list.

“The competition is arranged with customized calendars for male and female sides and the organization will permit participants for international matches, as included in their deals.”

R360 will seek approval for its initiatives from World Rugby, the sport's administrative organization, at its official gathering in the coming year.